Centauran

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			Intelligent Lifeform Index

Centauran
Four Letter Code	CENT
Federation Status	Member
Planet of Origin	Velestus, Alpha Quadrant
Encountered	TOS: "Tomorrow is Yesterday" & "Metamorphosis"
T/E Rating	T0/E0 - T4/E4
Current Tech Level	N
List of Named Centaurans
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The Centaurans, also known as "Centaurians" or "Velestians", are a species visibly indistinguishable from the Human race, hailing from Alpha Centauri IV, or Velestus in their own language. They are the fifth species to join the Federation following its founding.

Home world

See also: Alpha Centauri IV

Description

Dubbed "Alpha Centauri" by Humans long before they had achieved interstellar travel, the home system of the Velestians has always been visible to the naked eye from Earth, appearing as the brightest star in the Centaurus constellation. The system consists of binary stars, Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B along with thirteen orbiting planets. Velestus is the fourth planet from the gravitational center of the system.

Unlike Earth, there are no truly large continental landmasses on Alpha Centauri IV. A "Class-O" world, over 80% of the planet's surface is covered in water and is dotted with many archipelagos and islands, large and small, with few land-bridges or easily-crosses straits connecting one island to the next. Expectedly, the planet's landmasses are quite verdant and hardy to intense oceanic weather events. There is one polar landmass in the northern hemisphere, which is covered in an ice cap year-round. There are two primary oceans on Velestus, roughly divided along the northern and southern hemispheres of the planet, though these oceans are further subdivided into numerous small seas and bays.

Demographics

The current global population of Velestus is just over three billion Centaurans, along with several thousand Humans and Vulcans. Additional exoplanetary research facilities and small colonies have also been founded in the system, with similar population demographics.

Due to the inherent physical isolation between oceanic landmasses, early Centauran history is characterized by significant cultural and political fragmentation and factionalization. It was common for individual islands, or island chains, to coalesce into city states centered on one capital. During this period, jingoism, isolationism, and fierce political loyalty were ubiquitous, with each competing city state focused solely on ensuring their own interests. Many distinct cultures and political systems flourished during the early period of Centauran civilization.

Physiology

Centaurans are outwardly quite indistinguishable from Humans as a result of convergent evolutionary forces, often being mistaken for humans by everyone except physicians.

Developing advanced scientific and medical techniques several centuries ahead of Earth societies, Centaurans have long been characterized by good health and long lives. Early explorers from Earth would often comment on the natural beauty of the Centaurans they met - though this is generally attributed to the species' notable vitality and typically-graceful features.

With minor differences in organ placements and DNA in comparison to Humans, Centaurans and Humans are able to interbreed with little difficulty - as such, it requires only minimal medical supervision. One such minor difference is in the placement of the heart which, in typical human physiology resides between the lungs, slightly to the left of center; In Centaurans, the heart is located further to the right. In Human-Centauran hybrids, either placement is possible.

The average lifespan of Centaurans is considerably longer than Humans, despite their outward similarities - with it not being uncommon for healthy Centaurans to reach ages of over 250 years.

Telepathic and Empathic Abilities

Some Centaurans are capable of manifesting empathic or telepathic abilities anywhere from E1 to E4 and T1 to T3, though most are not. This preternatural ability may be linked to a recessive genetic component, however it has been known to appear spontaneously in families with no history of the ability.

Psychology

Most Centaurans tend towards contemplative, analytical, and reflective mindsets - which leads many into the arts, sciences, or some combination of the two. Many are pacifists, preferring to think deeply about the potential consequences and impacts of their actions before making significant commitments. As a culture typified by intentional and structured diversity and social harmony, Centaurans are largely a gregarious and outgoing people who tend to focus on the needs of others ahead of their own.

Centaurans have oft been referred to as "the most invisible people in the Federation" on account of both their physical similarities to Humans and other humanoid species and their reserved nature regarding their unique cultural identity. While they, generally, feel a great deal of personal pride in their home world and their culture, it is typical for Centaurans to consider themselves citizens of the Federation first and foremost. This mindset has likely developed in response to the prior cultural schisms and intense city-state jingoism which typified earlier Centauran history.

As such, most don't seem to mind this relative "invisibility" and accept mistakes about their heritage with good nature and humour, preferring to rest assured in their own connection to Velestus and avoid rubbing it in others' faces. This is further evidenced by their general acceptance of the term "Centauran," which is in fact a Human term and bears no connection to the mythology or history of the Velestians themselves.

Similarly, those rare Centaurans who do develop empathic and/or telepathic abilities are frequently mistaken for Betazoids and rarely bother with offering correction - however, they tend to shy away from demonstrating their abilities around others, preferring to 'mind their own business'.

History

Early History

Centauran history prior to the infamous "Plague Years" remains sparse and enigmatic. Many records were destroyed during the global conflicts and subsequent pandemic and crises that eventually led to Centauran reformation. Some early human explorers, struck by the Centaurans' physical resemblance and some linguistic similarities, mistook them for transplanted Greeks due to their common traits. Despite these observations, they are a genetically distinct species of alien origin, and the specifics of their private history and cultural origins remain closely guarded.

The Plague Years

Concurrent with Earth's mid-19th century, the Centauran people faced near-extinction as the result of a devastating worldwide plague. Following a global ban on nuclear weapons, many Velestian city states experimented with biological weapons. Whether accidental or by design, a deadly genetically-engineered retrovirus was released. The virus mutated rapidly into several potent strains, causing widespread illness, suffering, and billions of deaths. This period, lasting over a decade, would come to be known as The Plague Years.

While at first, world leaders attempted to find antidotes or vaccines, their efforts eventually failed, and they began looking for scapegoats. City states declared "war" on the virus as well as declaring war on each other, only furthering the chaos. As the death tolls rose, however, continued fighting eventually become unsustainable.

Eventually, governments were forced to collaborate and pool their resources. The international Emergency Medical Council (EMC) was formed, uniting scientists and doctors to combat the plagues. After over a decade of devastation, an effective antiviral agent and vaccine were developed in Terran Year 1871. The trauma of the plagues emphasized the importance of unity and peace, which informed the next chapter of Centauran history.

Following The Plague Years, the Centaurans built upon the EMC's foundation and established the planet's first global government under Dr. Kulei Asephas, the vaccine's discoverer. Despite Dr. Asephas' objections, she became global president by popular acclamation. Her government outlawed biological weapons and laid the foundations for a lasting time of world peace, focused on demilitarization and common good.

First Contact & Earth

Centaurans never achieved interstellar travel independently. First contact occurred in the Terran Standard Year 2066 when a human scouting vessel detected radio signals from Alpha Centauri's fourth planet. Upon investigation, the vessel found an advanced satellite network and a moonbase, leading to the formal establishment of first contact, somewhat mirroring the historic encounter Earth had with the Vulcans. An immediate cultural and technological exchange between the two people was initiated.

The Centauran influence on Earth was profound. Although they lacked warp drive technology, their unparalleled terraforming capabilities played a pivotal role in restoring Earth's natural vigor from its devastated post-war state - however, this assistance was not immediate. Tensions arose among Earth's nations during colonization efforts, leading to conflicts near Alpha Centauri. The Centaurans withdrew their terraforming technology, insisting (along with the Vulcans) on dealing with a unified Earth government.

Zefram Cochrane's move to Alpha Centauri, and his statements regarding Earth's uncertain future, motivated the people of Earth to establish a United Earth Government. Relations were restored, and Centaurans resumed cooperation, providing terraforming assistance, medical technologies, and becoming involved in Federation interstellar exploration and diplomacy.

Cooperation & The Federation

In the early days of the proto-Federation, a significant advancement occurred through collaboration between Centaurans and human scientists. They enhanced the livability of early scouting ships, making long interstellar journeys bearable. Together, they developed "recreation suites" or "rec rooms" that simulated various environments, easing the strain of space travel.

Decades later, a Centauran-led team of scientists and engineers from throughout the Federation would develop the modern Federation Holodeck and the associated harmonized technologies required to make it possible. This crucial tool has had a profound impact on training and recreation and holodeck technology continues to iterate and find new uses aboard starships and outposts.

Government & Society

Without usurping the rights of the individual, the Centaurans have managed to find a fine balance in a loosely structured communal society. The population is spread out into self-contained communities across the planet's many island -- each settlement known as a da'den can exist alone but they regularly trade goods and knowledge and breeding stock.

Culture & Customs

See also: Centauran Language

Family Structures

Family life among the Centaurans often involves loose familiar borders, with typical 'nuclear' earth structures giving way to a more communal and open system. While it is not uncommon for couples to form lifelong committed bonds, it is less common for any one pairing to bare more than one child, with most Centauran parents coupling with several partners throughout their lives. Such 'ebb and flow' has always existed as a part of Centauran culture, but it has only become more pronounced in the time following the Plague Years, with government incentives attempting to support repopulation and genetic diversification efforts.

Children on Velestus are typically raised in mutually-cared for groupings or "creches", as the Universal Translator describes it - a method supposedly inspired by the way the Centauran Manta schools. Children often remain in these creches until around the age of five and are then either raised predominantly by their biological family or, if the parents are disinterested in forming a close-knit family unit, may be adopted by another pairing for parenting. Centaurans insist that, despite initial human attitudes towards these practices, they are not as cold as they seem. Centaurans are naturally affectionate, if at times a bit aloof, generally taking pride in contributing to these communal child-rearing groups while enjoying the 'time off' afforded to parents during those difficult early years.

Customs & Traditions

• Eikostasia - A holiday dedicated to environmental harmony; Traditionally involves eating sliced mellithran dipped in nelthria nectar.

Food & Beverages

Noted Centauran food and beverages include:

• Fikarionin Voristh ("Breakfast of Seaweed") - a wrap-style breakfast food encased in seaweed which may be reminiscent of gyros and/or sushi.
• Centauran Sunset - an alcoholic drink, supposedly popular on Velestus.
• Mellithran - A purple jicama-like vegetable native to Velestus. Traditionally sliced up into wafers and dipped into nelthria nectar as part of the "Eikostasia" holiday tradition.

Mythology & Religion

Centauran mythology includes references to ancient peoples inhabiting islands that rose from the seas.

References

A good source on Alpha Centauri A & B: http://www.glyphweb.com/esky/stars/alphacentauri.html

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